World Aids Day: Why young women face the highest risk

World Aids Day: Why young women face the highest risk

There’s always a big build-up to 1 December each year, when we commemorate World Aids Day and think about things like safe sex and getting tested. But just because this date has passed doesn’t mean you can relax. Protecting yourself from HIV/Aids is something you need to think about every day, particularly if you’re in a high-risk group.

Scary World Aids Day stats: Who’s at the highest risk of contracting HIV?

Anyone who practices unsafe sex is at risk of HIV infection. However, according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), if you’re a woman between the ages of 15 and 24, you face the greatest danger. In 2012, results of the South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour survey, carried out by the HSRC, found that the HIV incidence rate among this group was more than four times higher than for men in the same age group.

Here are some more sobering statistics:

4.5% of South Africans are HIV positive.

Black African females aged 20 to 34 years were found to be the greatest affected.

Why is HIV infection on the rise?

Today, HIV infection rates remain scarily high, despite better access to information, greater awareness around the disease and commemorative days like World Aids Day. There are a number of reasons for this based on social, structural and biological factors, including:

Declining condom use. Many young people believe that they are at low risk of infection due to lack of information.

Prevalence of ‘sugar daddy’ relationships. There is a high incidence of age-disparate and/or transactional relationships between young women and older men, who also have a high incidence of HIV infection.

Extremely high incidence of gender-based violence. Horrifyingly, one in three young girls in South Africa report being raped. If you, or someone you care about, is the victim of gender-based violence, it’s vital you read this guide.

What can you do to stay safe?

The stats are scary, but it’s simple to keep yourself safe. Here are some effective ways to protect yourself:

Power up on knowledge: Understanding how HIV is transmitted is essential to keeping yourself protected. It’s especially important to educate young people at school level. If you have younger people in your care, or if you’re a relative, teacher or elder sibling, you can help by educating the youngsters in your life.

Getting tested. Clinics like Marie Stopes give young people safe, confidential access to high-quality sexual healthcare services, like HIV and STI testing, contraceptive counselling, safe abortions and more. Get tested regularly and encourage others to do the same. Remind others that places like Marie Stopes exist to provide caring, affordable services to men and women of all ages. And if you’re nervous about getting tested, you definitely need to read this article.

Be empowered. Remember that as a woman, you have the right to protect your health by insisting that your partner uses a condom and stays monogamous. Teach other young girls that they have these same rights, even if they’re in relationships with older men.

Use a condom EVERY time you have sex. Even if you’re using contraceptives, use dual protection every time you enjoy sexual activities. Only condoms can protect against contracting HIV and STIs.

More Information

Quick Facts

Sterilisation: If you know for sure that you don't want any more children this can be good. Implants: Last for 3 years. Just remember to replace after 3 years! IUD: Many people like it cause once it's in, it works for 5 years. You can ask for one without hormones if you want. (But remember condoms to protect against infection!)

Some people think that it's OK for the man to pull out of the vagina before he comes. NO! There can be sperm in the fluid that comes out before he comes – leading to pregnancy or infection.

Get Help

If you think you may be pregnant, DO A PREGNANCY TEST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE – you can get these tests from the pharmacy or your clinic or doctor. If you have an unwanted pregnancy, the sooner you know, the better you can be helped to choose what to do.

There are lots of government clinics that give free family planning. Look in the phone book or call a local clinic to find the closest one. Marie Stopes are South African government-approved reproductive health clinics.

More Information

More on Abortion

It is legal for women of any age to have an abortion in South Africa. No parental or partner permission is needed. It is your body and your decision to end or keep the pregnancy … nobody can force you. It is very important to go to a registered, legal facility. There are many people who advertise abortion services, but many are not legal and having a ‘backstreet abortion’ could be dangerous to your health and life.

Any woman can ask for an abortion in the first three months (12 weeks) of pregnancy. If you are three to five months (13-20 weeks) pregnant, an abortion can be performed under certain circumstances. It is very important to act quickly, the earlier you seek help the better.

You can visit your doctor who will refer you to an appropriate facility and a consultation fee will be charged. You can go to a private organisation such as Marie Stopes where there will be also be a charge. Some government facilities offer abortions for free, see link below for a list of local government facilities which offer the service.

Medical abortion: Tablets to end an early pregnancy can be taken up until the 9th week of pregnancy. You will be given pills to take at the clinic and to take at home. It will cause you to bleed like a period, but it might be heavier than your normal period.

Surgical abortion: The pregnancy is removed whilst you are at the facility, typically through vacuum aspiration.

If the abortion is done by a legal provider at a legal facility, problems after the procedure are rare. A trained counsellor will discuss your options and advise you on which family planning methods are suitable for you.